19 Avatars of Lord Shiva:Interesting facts about the Avatars

Lord Shiva is the Archetype of Destruction in Hinduism. Devotees also call him Mahadeva, the Supreme God.

While Brahma creates and Vishnu preserves, Shiva maintains balance by destroying so that the universe can be created anew. Like Vishnu, Shiva has also taken many avatars or incarnations.

In this article, we shall learn about Shiva's avatars, as mentioned in the Shiva Purana.
 
The Shiva Purana says that Lord Shiva had 19 avatars. Each has a unique power and purpose.

The 19 Avatars of Lord Shiva 
 
1.Piplaad

Piplaad was the son of Sage Dadhichi and Suvarcha. His father expired before he was born. It was his aunt Dadhimati who raised him. When he grew up and discovered the cause of his father’s death, he was furious and wanted to get revenge. The Gods told him that Shani Dev (Saturn) was the reason for his father’s untimely death. Piplaad cursed Shani Dev, saying that he would lose his position among the heavenly bodies and fall off the galaxy. Shani sought his mercy and forgiveness. 

The Gods, however, managed to calm him down, and he agreed to spare Shani. But he imposed a condition that Shani would not affect anyone who was less than 16 years old. 
It is for this reason that people with Shani Dosha in their horoscope worship the Piplaad avatar of Shiva. It enables them to overcome the malefic effects of the Dosha which is caused by the unfavorable position of planet Saturn in the horoscope. 

2.Nandi

Sage Shilada’s extreme penance pleased Shiva immensely. He gave him the boon of an immortal child. Later, he took the form of his son Nandi. Nandi is a symbol of male vigor and protects herds. He is a fierce and strong bull. In his human form, he is Nandikeshwar. He has four hands, of which two are folded in homage. The other two hold an ax and an antelope. 
Nandi is Shiva's greatest devotee and the gatekeeper of Mount Kailash, Shiva’s abode. Devotees believe that if they utter their wishes in Nandi’s ears, they will surely reach Mahadev, and he will fulfill them.
 
3.Veerbhadra

Veerbhadra is the fiercest of all Shiva avatars. He emerged from Shiva’s ‘jata’ or matted locks. He rose from the hair that Shiva plucked out in anger. This took place after Shiva’s wife, Sati, immolated herself in the Yagna performed by her father, Daksha, when he insulted Shiva. 

Veerbhadra killed King Daksha to avenge Sati’s death. He also stopped the Yagna by creating mayhem. He polluted the offering, broke the sacrificial vessels, and insulted the priests. He even went to the extent of trampling Lord Indra and breaking Yama’s (God of death) staff. 

4.Bhairava

This is also a fierce avatar of Shiva. He was born when Brahma lied to Shiva, making the latter angry. Bhairava cut off the fifth head of Brahma and incurred Brahmahathi Dosha as he killed a Brahmin. He roamed as a beggar carrying Brahma’s kapala or skull for 12 years to get relief from his sin. 

Bhairava/Kala Bhairava guards the 52 Shakti Peethas in India. 

Bhairava signifies the destruction of arrogance, lies, lust, and negativity. People worship this form to gain victory over one’s opponents and achieve material success. 

5.Ashwatthama

He was the son of Dronacharya and his wife Kripi and one of the most powerful avatars of Shiva. Drona was the guru of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Ashwatthama was born when Shiva drank the Halahal poison that emerged during the churning of the Milky Ocean. Hence, he is also called “Vish Purush.” He was a brave warrior and one of 8 immortals or Chiranjeevis. Although he took birth in a Brahmin family, he liked to engage in warfare and lived like a Kshatriya.  

6.Sharabha

This avatar is part-lion and part-bird. Shiva took this form to tame Lord Narasimha (the fierce, half-lion half-man avatar of Vishnu). He has 30 arms (each carrying a weapon) and 8 legs. Worshipping this form can bestow good luck and remove negativity.

7.Grihapati

This Shiva avatar is the “Lord of directions.” Grihapati was the son of Sage Vishwanar and his wife Shuchismati. He was born to them as Lord Shiva was pleased by their devotion. On learning that his malefic planetary position caused his untimely death, Grihapati went to Kashi to do penance. Indra accosted him on the way and tried to kill him. However, Shiva appeared and saved his life. He also gave him a boon, whereby even the Kaalvajra could not harm him. 

8.Durvasa

Sage Durvasa was the son of Sage Atri and Anusuya. Even the Gods were in awe of him. However, he had a very short temper which caused problems to others. He was responsible for maintaining discipline on Earth. 

9.Hanuman

Hanuman was a great devotee of Lord Rama. He was born to Anjani when the Saptarishis (7 eminent sages) implanted the burst of energy released by Shiva on seeing Vishnu’s Mohini form into her womb. This was done with Shiva’s permission. Worshipping Hanuman gives one freedom from fear and sickness. 

10.Rishabha

Rishabha appeared in the form of an ox. His mission was to defeat the illicit sons of Vishnu, who were unleashing havoc on humans and the Gods. 

11.Yatinath

Taking the form of a poor man with no shelter, Shiva, as Yatinath, tested a tribal couple’s hospitality. The tribal man, Aahuk, lost his life by offering shelter to Yatinath, while his wife was proud of her husband’s sacrifice. Pleased, Shiva granted them a boon. As per the boon, the couple reincarnated as Nala and Damayanti in their next birth, and Shiva himself reunited them. 

12.Krishna Darshan

This avatar is a spiritual guide. He helped Nabhag, the son of King Shradhadeva, get salvation. He taught Nabhag the importance of Yagnas and detachment. 

13.Bhikshuvarya

Shiva took this avatar to protect King Satyaratha’s child after the death of his parents. The child received Shiva’s blessings and was raised by a poor lady. 

14.Sureshwar

Disguised as Lord Indra, this form of Shiva appeared to test the devotion of Upamanyu, the son of Sage Vyaghrapad. When Upamanyu cleared the test, Shiva promised to stay with Goddess Parvati near his hermitage.

15.Kirateshwar

The hunter Kirat was an avatar of Shiva. He appeared before Arjuna when he was in meditation to test him. Impressed with his courage and strength, he gifted him the Pashupata Astra, a divine weapon. 

16.Suntantarka

He was the dancer who danced in the court of King Himavat with his damru. This avatar manifested to get permission from the king of the mountains to marry his daughter Parvati.

17.Brahmachari

Before their marriage, Shiva took this form to test Parvati’s devotion to him. 

18.Yaksheswar

When the Milky Ocean was churned for the divine elixir“Amrit”, the Gods became very proud. Shiva took this avatar to destroy their ego and pride. He gave them a bunch of grass and asked them to cut it, but none of the Gods were able to cut the divine grass. 

19.Avadhut

This avatar of Shiva appeared to destroy Indra's ego.